Yin Yoga Therapy and Mental Health

Tracey Meyers deftly integrates Yin Yoga with psychotherapy in her thoughtful, scholarly approach to treating anxiety, depression, trauma, schizophrenia, and brain injury cases. Rare in its depth and clarity.... a must-read for clinicians and yoga therapists. -- Patricia L. Gerbarg, MD Assistant Clinical Professor in Psychiatry, New York Medical College and Co-author of The Healing Power of the Breath Tracey's writing offers a rich and unique tapestry of philosophy and practical application from yoga, Buddhism, and psychology seamlessly weaving personal story and client examples that empower the reader in applying this work. Her writing is personal, approachable, and inspiring-full of both wisdom and heart. -- Marlysa Sullivan DPT, C-IAYT, Physical Therapy Coordinator Empower Veterans Program Dr. Meyers gives us thoughtful and real examples of how these yoga and breathing practices have been used in her personal and professional life. The stories about individuals being introduced to mind-body practices and their reactions made the book engaging versus a basic instructional manual. Each story that was presented in the book was thoughtfully and respectfully written. As a trauma thriver I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning mind-body practices as a form of healing. -- Linda Lentini, Director of Healing from Within Dr. Meyers' vision of the hybrid modality of yin yoga as an accessible, complete practice is well-suited to support the range of mental health conditions she outlines through the lens of Western psychology. Of particular value for physical health providers, this practical text engagingly draws on personal clinical experience as well as ideas from a number of mind-body traditions to demonstrate how the tension experienced in yin-style practice can help us to access fluidity, range of motion, comfort, and ease. In so doing, we nudge open the doorways of perception, creating possibilities for skilled response rather than habitual reaction. -- Laurie Hyland Robertson, Editor in Chief, Yoga Therapy Today The clear, clean writing of Tracey Meyers, Yin Yoga and Mental Health, cultivates the reader's attention in the same manner a yin posture invites the practitioner into a deeper, more meditative understanding of ways to engage in their lived experience. -- Diana Finlayson, Department chair, yoga therapy Maryland University of Integrative Health In today's movement towards making yoga more widely accessible and trauma-informed, this book is a must read. Tracey skillfully weaves together compelling stories, robust scientific and public health data, and step-by-step guidance in transformative yogic techniques, leaving the reader both inspired and empowered to support their own and others' mental health through the healing powers of yoga. -- Kyla Pearce, Senior Director of Programs at LoveYourBrain Foundation